Lithographix Is Looking to Heartland for Further Growth

LOS ANGELES—The economy may not be in growth mode, but Lithographix Inc.—one of the leading lithographers nationwide—certainly is on the move.

The Los Angeles-based sheetfed and web printer, with print production facilities in San Diego and San Francisco, enjoyed growth and expansion opportunities during 2001, and is now poised to make a run at the central and eastern portions of the country.

In August of 2001, Mike Hecht, executive vice president of sales, added Rob Styacich to Lithographix's executive management team. According to Hecht, "This was our first move to expand into the national market. Once we realized that our national expansion was next, we interviewed a number of people from various areas of the country. We hired Rob because of his excellent reputation and his leadership qualities."

"Business was good in 2001—in a down economy, we continue to perform," says Styacich of Lithographix, which posted $120 million in sales last year and has sales offices located in Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, New York, Seattle and Tampa Bay. "We have the best account management team in the country. They are seasoned professionals with strong technical skills, committed to supporting the needs of their clients.

"After completing my seventh month with the company, it has become quite clear to me as to why Lithographix has earned the reputation of being one of the finest lithographers in the United States," he adds. "The team that Vice President of Manufacturing George Wolden has assembled, combined with the culture that President and CEO Herb Zebrack started, demands complete customer satisfaction. A lot of the credit goes to Herb. He has assembled the team that makes our company stand out in the industry."

For the second time in as many years, Lithographix expanded its production base with the acquisition of an existing company. It acquired Bofors Printing, of San Francisco, complementing its acquisition of the San Diego facility in 2000.